Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia
Encyclopedia
The Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia also known as Majlis as-Shura or Shura Council is the formal advisory body of Saudi Arabia
, which is an absolute monarchy
. It cannot pass or enforce laws, a power reserved for the King. The Consultative Assembly has limited powers in government, including the power to propose laws to the King. It has 150 members, all of whom are appointed by the King. The Consultative Assembly is headed by a Speaker. The current speaker is Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh
. The King has decided that women may be nominated to the Shura Council in future.
The Consultative Assembly is based in the Al-Yamamah Palace, Riyadh
.
The modernization of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia or Majlis Ash-Shura was considered by the Saudi government to make a significant improvement in the council's methods (Shura
).
Having been expanded in 1997 and 2001, the council achieved a place in the International Parliamentary Union by the end of 2003. The fourth term council held 845 sessions and issued 1174 declarations during its second year.
and is led by Chairperson Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Sheikh, Deputy Chairperson Dr. Bandar Bin Mohammed Hamza Asad Hajar, Assistant Chairman Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Barak and Secretary-General Mohammed A. Al Ghamdi.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, which is an absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
. It cannot pass or enforce laws, a power reserved for the King. The Consultative Assembly has limited powers in government, including the power to propose laws to the King. It has 150 members, all of whom are appointed by the King. The Consultative Assembly is headed by a Speaker. The current speaker is Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh
Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh
Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh is the current Chairman of the Majlis ash-Shura of Saudi Arabia, and was, until 2009, the country's Minister of Justice.-Background and education:...
. The King has decided that women may be nominated to the Shura Council in future.
The Consultative Assembly is based in the Al-Yamamah Palace, Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
.
The modernization of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia or Majlis Ash-Shura was considered by the Saudi government to make a significant improvement in the council's methods (Shura
Shura
Shura is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision....
).
Powers
The Consultative Assembly is permitted to propose draft laws and forward them to the King, but only the King has the power to pass or enforce them. The Assembly does, however, have the power to interpret laws, as well as examine annual reports referred to it by state ministries and agencies. It can also advise the King on policies he submits to it, along with international treaties and economic plans. The Assembly is also authorized to review the country's annual budget, and call in ministers for questioning.History
King Fahd decreed a new Majlis Ash-Shura Law in 27/8/1421 H, 24/Nov/2000, which replaced the previous law 1347 H.1928, and decreed the bylaws of the council and their supplements on 22 Aug 1993. The first term council (1993–1997) had a speaker and 60 members. The membership was increased by 30 in each of the second term (1997–2001), third term (2001–2005) and fourth term (2005–2009) councils, given 150 members plus the speaker in the fourth term council.Having been expanded in 1997 and 2001, the council achieved a place in the International Parliamentary Union by the end of 2003. The fourth term council held 845 sessions and issued 1174 declarations during its second year.
Leadership
The 2009–2013 (fifth term) council, which started on 28 February 2009, includes no womenWomen's rights in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights in Saudi Arabia are defined by Islam and tribal customs. The Arabian peninsula is the ancestral home of patriarchal, nomadic tribes, in which purdah and namus are considered central....
and is led by Chairperson Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Sheikh, Deputy Chairperson Dr. Bandar Bin Mohammed Hamza Asad Hajar, Assistant Chairman Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Barak and Secretary-General Mohammed A. Al Ghamdi.
Committees
The Assembly consists of twelve committees:- Islamic, Judicial Affairs, and Human Rights Committee
- Social, Family, and Youth Affairs Committee
- Economic Affairs and Energy Committee
- Security Affairs Committee
- Educational and Scientific Research Affairs Committee
- Cultural and Informational Affairs Committee
- Foreign Affairs Committee
- Health and Environmental Affairs Committee
- Financial Affairs Committee
- Transportation, Communications, Information Technology Committee
- Water and Public Facilities and Services Committee
- Administration, Human Resources and Petitions Committee.